Thinking about getting into pikes

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Mythic Figment

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 27, 2012
2,117
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Florida
So I am about to have an extra 75 gallon tank without anything in it. Now I have always kept peaceful SA cichlids, but I recently did an order from Rapps with a friend who ordered a RTM. I had to hang onto the RTM for a few days and it grew on me a bit. It got me thinking about having one predatory tank and I wanted to do something that none of the hobbyists I talk with locally are doing. And the answer seems to be pikes! One look at these guys and I knew it was the right cichlid for me to have if I wanted something with more attitude. I have done lots of research, but there seems to be quite the variety with pikes in both size and temperament.

I am looking for at least 3-4 pikes that can live comfortably in the 75. I would also like tankmate recommendations for some fish that can live happy as dithers/mid-top dwellers. I like the looks of regani and compressiceps, but nothing else has really caught my eye. I do enjoy breeding, so having a breeding pair of pikes would be cool, but I can also live happily with just keeping them. :)

I would greatly appreciate any info you can give me on best species of pikes that can live out their lives in the 75, some mid-top dwellers they can live with and any information you can give me about any special care they may need that I wouldn't likely have come across in profiles.

Thanks!


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Regani are pretty mild temperament, but Comps can turn psycho. Experienced pike keepers can tell you that 8 Comps can turn into 1 overnight.

Regani can be trained to eat mysis from your fingers.

Crenicichla Notophthalmus are beautiful dwarf pike also, and would look in any tank.

Gymnogeophagus are very colorful eartheaters
http://www.fishbase.org/identification/SpeciesList.php?genus=Gymnogeophagus

Anything that's mid-top would need to be pretty stout. As the pikes will use them as punching bags often.

A recent thread that might inspire would be:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?551841-Pike-project-from-Sweden

HTH
 
My concern is with my green terror. He's small and he's been mellow so far but we know how that goes. I figured they are pretty tough fish and can hold their own and it wouldn't be much of a problem for them and if they have to retreat as they'll have a safe place to do so.
 
TheSinisterSOB said:
Regani are pretty mild temperament, but Comps can turn psycho. Experienced pike keepers can tell you that 8 Comps can turn into 1 overnight.

Regani can be trained to eat mysis from your fingers.

Crenicichla Notophthalmus are beautiful dwarf pike also, and would look in any tank.

Gymnogeophagus are very colorful eartheaters
http://www.fishbase.org/identification/SpeciesList.php?genus=Gymnogeophagus

Anything that's mid-top would need to be pretty stout. As the pikes will use them as punching bags often.

A recent thread that might inspire would be:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?551841-Pike-project-from-Sweden

HTH
Click to expand...

Sweet. I do like the look of the comps, but don't think I want so much aggression that I am fishing dead pikes out all the time. The Regani and Notos are definitely front runners.

Was the link for the Gymnos for potential tankmates?

Someone mentioned festivum in the last link you posted. Do you think I could have 4 festivum in with 4-6 dwarf pikes?

Also, do you have any suggestions for some of the medium growing (6-10") pikes that might do well in a 75? I know I said I would want 3-4 pikes, but I can live with a pair of good sized pikes.


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Mythic Figment said:
Sweet. I do like the look of the comps, but don't think I want so much aggression that I am fishing dead pikes out all the time. The Regani and Notos are definitely front runners.

Was the link for the Gymnos for potential tankmates?

Someone mentioned festivum in the last link you posted. Do you think I could have 4 festivum in with 4-6 dwarf pikes?

Also, do you have any suggestions for some of the medium growing (6-10") pikes that might do well in a 75? I know I said I would want 3-4 pikes, but I can live with a pair of good sized pikes.

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Click to expand...

Yes the link for the gymnos was to help with a cleaning crew.

Festivum would be a great tank mate. 4 festivum and 4 dwarf pikes in a 75g might be a bit much on the bioload, however if the dwarf pikes pair up you'll only have to worry about 2 pikes.

As for medium growing (6-10") pikes the list is very long, but supply is not always available. Currently Jeff Rapps (www.tangledupincichlids.com) has crenicichla reticulata (rough max length 8"), but finding any specific species may be hit or miss.

Keep an eye on the vendor section for some of the best selections from MFK importers.
 
TheSinisterSOB said:
Yes the link for the gymnos was to help with a cleaning crew.

Festivum would be a great tank mate. 4 festivum and 4 dwarf pikes in a 75g might be a bit much on the bioload, however if the dwarf pikes pair up you'll only have to worry about 2 pikes.

As for medium growing (6-10") pikes the list is very long, but supply is not always available. Currently Jeff Rapps (www.tangledupincichlids.com) has crenicichla reticulata (rough max length 8"), but finding any specific species may be hit or miss.

Keep an eye on the vendor section for some of the best selections from MFK importers.
Click to expand...

How well do pikes do with the annual temperature drops most gymnos need?

I like the idea of festivum since very few other cichlids will stick to the middle and top.

I have run into a pike selection issue with the very large number of species available. It has almost driven me to subscribe to the Cichlid Room Companion. LOL

Rapps is the first place I look for SA cichlids when I go online. I saw some of his pikes, but can't find good pictures to really convince me to pull the trigger. And the more I think about it, the more I think I want just a breeding pair of medium size pikes with maybe 1-2 target cichlids (like convicts).


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I have a 8-9" bellycrawler in my 125 and feel a pair would work in a 75g. Just make sure they have pvc of hollowed out logs to hide in. Not the flashiest pike but have that nice dont start anything but don't backdown attitude.
 
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